“Because I Could Not Stop for Death” Though death is universal, nobody ever seems to expect it. The obviousness and darkness of such a statement is fully reflected in the Emily Dickinson poem, “Because I Could Not Stop for Death,” which builds upon the fact that when death comes, it will not do so based upon our own convenience. Although supernatural themes are common in many Emily Dickinson poems, “Because I Could Not Stop for Death,” is unique because of a style of narration which places a mockingly lighthearted perspective on “who” we consider death to be. A continually repeated image throughout, “Because I Could Not Stop for Death,” is the personification of death as a kindly gentleman, who “kindly stopped” and escorted a lady into his carriage, a literal symbol of an ending life. This image, a sharp contrast to the typical image of death as a fearful and mysterious figure, allows for the narrator’s retelling of her death to be civilized and sound almost leisurely.
The author used both figurative and literal language to move the poem forward. The use of the word “carriage” is used to show that as the speaker is riding towards death, she is doing so in an elegant manner. Also, the word “passed” is used to show literally how quickly the speaker rode past without much of a look or slowing down. The author uses very elevated diction words such as “gossamer”, “tippet”, and “tulle”. This is a symbol for the elegance and calmness in death.
In Dickinson’s poem the first stanza compares dying to taking a carriage ride with a suitor. Death and immortality are personified. Death is a metaphor to a suitor. The speaker realizes that she is going to have to go with death and finds that immortality comes with them. The second stanza implies that death is a slow process and chooses its own pace.
She also expresses anger in her speech, which again reveals how frustrating a loss can be. I was especially moved when she says “silence the pianos and with the muffled drum bring out the coffin, let the mourners come” (3-4). This removal of music symbolises her extreme need for isolation. She doesn’t feel any positivity and has given up hope of emotional aid. Although people are reaching out to her she knows they don’t understand her situation.
Midterm Exam “The Appointment in Samarra” is a short story that has a different outlook from the one that is popular in western cultures. In the story Death is a woman who let’s a servant know he’s going to die while the servant is at a marketplace buying items. Death is personalized as a vulnerable woman who can make a mistake regarding one’s fate. This “Death” character differs from the established idea of the current society in which Death is portrayed as a man or as the frightening Grim Reaper. Death in the story doesn’t seem to embody the idea of the Grim Reaper but rather the opposite.
The poem portrays death as a very kind entity that did the speaker a kindness by coming for him or her since they could not “stop for death.” Throughout the poem, this journey is depicted as carriage ride in which the person that has died notices the daily routines of life as something to pass by and learns that death means immortality, for she no longer has a concept of time in a traditional sense. In no moment does the speaker feel Death is threatening and actually welcomes Death as a kind and gentle being so her attitude and tone is very accepting throughout. In The Man He Killed, a soldier wonders if his killing of the “enemy” is justifiable in any way. He pictures in his mind that, had it not been for the circumstances of war, they could have maybe sat down to some beers and even be friends. He goes on to say that he killed the other man on the grounds that they were war enemies and could not think of any other
Of course not because it is impossible. All one can actually do is guess what happens. Most people are scared to death about death. Indeed, the subject is a very morbid topic to talk about of. However, Mark Twain chose to make fun of the subject; “The fear of death follows from the fear of life.
Also we only get a hint that something has happened to the woman in “The Laboratory” and she don’t give what really has happened. Both of the characters are obsessed but with different things. In “The Laboratory” the women is obsessed with death. This is implied when she goes on about “a mere lozenge to give” and also when she says “Not that I bid you spare her pain”. Whereas the Duke in “My Last Duchess” is obsessed with material possessions.
“Because I Could Not Stop For Death” shows Emily Dickinson’s feelings of anguish towards death by conveying the magnitude of death that was prevalent in the nineteenth century. The poem illustrates a definite theme of Dickinson’s life being interrupted by death. “Because I Could Not Stop For Death” expresses how consumption literally consumed life and society during Dickinson’s time period by communicating the predominant emotions felt by those who lived in the nineteenth century. Dickinson does not appear to have written this poem in praise or criticism of society, but rather as an expression of feelings felt by many people who were plagued by death. Dickinson uses “Because I Could Not Stop For
Dallas Boggs Storm Warnings Analysis Essay “How with a single purpose time has traveled by secret currents of the undiscerned.” The poem “Storm Warnings” indicates that the speaker is waiting for death. She ,the narrator, waits for death throughout the poem, waiting for its cold hands around her beating heart. The speaker uses words and phrases that give off a sense of death when I read it. This is conveyed through Rich’s use of tone, a theme of fate, and a message of mortality. In the first stanza, fourth line it says “of grey unrest moving across the land.” This could be interpreted as death itself, creeping up on her to take her precious soul away.